Usha Rao, PhD, is a researcher, speaker, college professor, and consultant. She is a recipient of the Association for Women in Science’s Zenith award, a lifetime award for achievement, leadership, and advocacy by senior scientists; the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching; the Distinguished Lectureship for research from the Association for Women Geoscientists; and the Bingham Award from the Philadelphia chapter of the Association for Women in Science. For over 25 years, she has advocated for women and minorities in STEM.